101 Frequently Asked Questions About Falun Gong

(Minghui.org) Below are a collection of answers we have provided as reference to 101 questions people commonly ask about Falun Gong.

Part 1. Introduction

1. What is Falun Gong?

Answer: Falun Gong (also known as Falun Dafa) is a universal spiritual discipline based on Buddhist tradition. Guided by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, the Falun Gong faith improves mind and body with five sets of gentle exercises, guides people to a higher spiritual realm, and helps them return to their true selves.

2. Who founded Falun Gong?

A: Falun Gong was introduced by Mr. Li Hongzhi in 1992 in Changchun, China. Falun Gong was first taught to the public at a class in Changchun in May 1992. Between May 1992 and the end of 1994, Mr. Li was invited to hold over 50 in-person lectures in Beijing, Wuhan, Guangzhou, and other cities. Amid the surge of interest in qigong throughout China at the time, Falun Gong stood out and quickly gained public recognition.

3. What is the specific meaning of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance?

A: Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance are the core guiding principles of Falun Gong. Truthfulness and Compassion are easy to comprehend on the surface, while practitioners come to understand Forbearance gradually through actual practice. Master Li wrote, “Forbearance is the key to improving one’s xinxing. To endure with anger, grievance, or tears is the forbearance of an everyday person who is attached to his concerns. To endure completely without anger or grievance is the forbearance of a cultivator.” (“What is Forbearance (Ren)?”, Essentials for Further Advancement)

4. How does Falun Gong differ from ordinary qigong?

A: Rather than simply improving health, Falun Gong was introduced to genuinely guide people toward high levels. Falun Gong requires practitioners to value virtue and improve their character. While conventional qigong practices often focus on curing illnesses, Falun Gong emphasizes moral integrity and cultivating the mind. Practitioners are guided by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance to elevate their moral standards, a requirement not found in other qigong practices. Many practitioners say their family, work, and interpersonal relationships improved after they began practicing Falun Gong.

5. What are the similarities and differences between Falun Gong and Buddhism?

A: At a basic level, both include teachings on compassion and transcending the karmic cycle of birth, old age, sickness, and death. Falun Gong is based on Buddhist principles but gradually guides practitioners to cultivate themselves according to the laws, more broadly, that govern the universe. Buddhism often has precepts, while Falun Gong is guided by the teachings of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. While formal, modern Buddhism emphasizes religious endeavors, Falun Gong is loosely organized and directs its practice toward the heart and mind, or character. Falun Gong allows one to refine both the mind and the body, offering guiding principles as well as five sets of exercises. Practicing Falun Gong can reveal deeper truths of the universe that go beyond Buddhist tradition and can elevate people to a higher level.

6. How is Falun Gong related to Taoism?

A: Ancient schools of Taoism mostly conducted their practice in solitude, while Falun Gong is practiced in the world. Taoism focuses on alchemy and longevity, but Falun Gong does not pursue these goals. Taoism has a system of ancestral temples, but Falun Gong does not. Falun Gong encompasses Buddhist and Taoist ideas, yet could be considered more profound and extensive.

7. Is Falun Gong related to Chinese folk beliefs?

A: Falun Gong has roots in Chinese culture but is not the same as folk beliefs. It shares similarities with Chinese Buddhism and Taoism but is more profound. Practitioners do not worship idols or conduct folk rituals. Falun Gong emphasizes inner cultivation of the mind and improving one’s morality.

8. Is Falun Gong a secret organization?

A: The practice of Falun Gong does not have an organization. Some practitioners have registered organizations for the purposes of countering the persecution and allowing people to get to know the practice. Activities organized by practitioners are open and transparent. Practice sites are typically located in parks and community spaces. All books and lecture recordings are available online. Parades, marches, and community events outside China are held with the approval of different levels of government. In day-to-day life, practitioners are part of society like everyone else.

9. Does Falun Gong have a leadership structure?

A: Falun Gong practitioners are guided by Mr. Li Hongzhi’s teachings. They do not have a formal organization, membership registration, or hierarchy. Activities are primarily held by volunteers. However, in an effort to expose the persecution, Falun Gong practitioners have formed both informal community organizations united by faith, as well as formal corporate or institutional entities.

10. Is Falun Gong a “worldwide faith”?

A: Falun Gong’s universal values and global reach have attracted practitioners all over the world, and its teachings have been translated into over 50 languages as of 2025. Practitioners everywhere are guided by the Falun Gong teachings rather than by other practitioners. There are no restrictions on nationality, race, age, or occupation.

Part 2. Spiritual Practice and Methods

11. What are the characteristics of Falun Gong exercises?

A: Falun Gong includes five sets of exercises that are simple and easy to learn. It emphasizes the cultivation of the mind and character, and is characterized by the fact that the practice refines you nonstop. In addition, the exercises are not restricted by location, time, or direction, as in other qigong practices.

12. How does one practice Falun Gong?

A: One can practice either on one’s own or as part of a group. Practicing Falun Gong mainly includes reading the main Falun Gong text Zhuan Falun, improving one’s character, doing the exercises in groups, and exchanging experiences with other practitioners. When practicing as a group, practitioners read the teachings, cultivate heart and mind, and practice the exercises together.

13. What does Falun Gong practice involve?

A: Falun Gong is a profound Buddhist practice that cannot be simplified or summarized in a few words. Studying the teachings, practicing the exercises, and improving one’s character during challenges and conflicts are fundamental.

Studying the teachings involves reading Falun Gong books and articles, such as Zhuan Falun, to understand the principles of spiritual cultivation. Practicing the exercises involves doing the five Falun Gong exercises (see the book, The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection) with their slow, gentle, and smooth movements. Working on one’s mind involves holding oneself to the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance, improving one’s character, and elevating morally.

14. What are the five exercises of Falun Gong?

A: The five sets of Falun Gong exercises are: (1) Buddha Stretching a Thousand Arms; (2) Falun Standing Stance; (3) Penetrating the Cosmic Extremes; (4) Falun Cosmic Orbit; and (5) Reinforcing Supernatural Powers.

15. How can I learn Falun Gong?

A: One can start by reading Zhuan Falun, attending a free nine-day instruction and exercise class, or attending a local practice site. Falun Gong practitioners worldwide teach the exercises on a voluntary basis and do not charge any fees or accept gifts.

16. Does Falun Gong have any precepts or requirements for worship?

A: Falun Gong has no precepts, worship, master-apprenticeship ceremonies, or membership rosters, and people can come and go as they wish.

17. Do I have to practice every day?

A: Spiritual practice depends on one’s own initiative and should be arranged to fit one’s schedule. However, practitioners are encouraged to read the teachings and practice the exercises every day. Many practitioners have achieved faster advancement through diligent effort.

18. Are there any age limits?

A: Falun Gong has no age limit. The exercises are simple and do not require physical strength. Children as young as three years old as well as those in their 90s can learn to practice. People of all ages practice Falun Gong.

19. Can I study the practice on my own?

A: You can definitely learn on your own. All teaching materials are publicly available, and online learning resources are available worldwide. Many practitioners initially start by reading on their own. But if possible, participating in group study and group exercises can be very helpful to improving spiritually.

20. Can I smoke or drink alcohol while practicing Falun Gong?

A: Smoking and drinking are harmful and can put the body in an unhealthy state. After people begin practicing Falun Gong, they usually lose the urge to smoke or drink.

21. Does Falun Gong require long-term practice to be effective?

A: The spiritual practice precedes the physical practice. Practice the exercises more when you have time and less when you don’t. The effects of practicing vary from person to person, but sincere practice usually brings rapid improvement in both body and mind. Persisting in the practice helps improve one’s morality and spiritual realm.

22. Does Falun Gong advocate abstinence or extreme lifestyles?

A: Practitioners are encouraged to maintain a normal life, including work and study. Cultivating the mind and practicing the exercises can be integrated into any healthy and moral lifestyle.

23. Does Falun Gong affect daily life?

A: Cultivation can improve one’s learning and work efficiency, enhance physical fitness, and improve family and community relationships.

24. Is Falun Gong suitable for children?

A: It is highly beneficial for children’s physical and mental health. The exercises are gentle and not strenuous. The teachings and poems encourage good moral qualities and can help children regulate their emotions and develop good behavior and habits.

Part 3. Books and Resources

25. What are the main books of Falun Gong?

A: Zhuan Falun is Falun Gong’s main text. The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection explains the five sets of exercises and their principles. Other supplementary books, such as Falun Gong, Essentials for Further Advancement, the Hong Yin series, and Collected Teachings Given Around the World are also widely circulated.

26. What are Falun Gong’s main teachings?

A: Zhuan Falun is the core text of Falun Gong. It comprehensively explains the principles and methods of practicing Falun Gong and serves as a fundamental guide for practitioners. It is a must-read for learners. It has been translated into over 50 languages and is available worldwide.

27. How are Falun Gong’s teachings spread?

A: They are primarily distributed through books and the internet. Zhuan Falun has been translated into over 50 languages. It is available in bookstores and can be downloaded for free online. Practitioners in China voluntarily print and distribute these texts.

28. Why is it important for practitioners to read the teachings regularly?

A: Zhuan Falun is the fundamental guide for one’s spiritual practice. Other lectures provide specific guidance tailored to practitioners’ spiritual needs and help them better understand Zhuan Falun. Dafa books should be read regularly to continuously deepen one’s understanding of Dafa, improve heart and mind, and make progress.

29. What is Minghui.org?

A: Minghui.org is seen as the website where practitioners of Falun Gong can exchange their experiences with the practice, in a formal way. Founded in 1999 primarily to expose the persecution, however, the website is a central part of the Falun Gong community. Its core mission is actually to “use firsthand information from mainland China to expose the persecution of Falun Gong by the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), clarify the facts about Falun Gong, and address the damage the persecution has brought to the Falun Gong faith community in mainland China.”

30. What is the difference between Minghui.org and other Falun Gong practitioner-run media outlets?

A: Minghui is dedicated to reporting on the spiritual side of Falun Gong. It is non-commercial and apolitical. Information is primarily compiled and published by unpaid volunteers. Our core goals are to expose the CCP’s persecution, maintain the environment for and direction of our spiritual practice, and help the public get to know us, not to entertain.

Part 4. Health and Benefits

31. What are the benefits of practicing Falun Gong?

A: Falun Gong teaches the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Practitioners enjoy improved health and moral integrity. Falun Gong also benefits society in many ways. A 1998 survey of 10,000 practitioners by China’s General Administration of Sport showed that 97.9% of practitioners experienced relief from or recovered from their illnesses through the practice.

32. Is Falun Gong used to treat illnesses?

A: Falun Gong is a Buddhist practice. Its purpose is not to cure illness; however, the process of cultivating one’s character and practicing the exercises can naturally achieve the effects of curing illness and improving health. Falun Gong focuses on cultivating one’s heart and mind rather than simply practicing the exercise movements.

33. Are Falun Gong’s effects of curing illnesses and improving health a result of psychological suggestion?

A: Surveys show that Falun Gong practitioners experience significant improvements in their health after their character improves, a feat not achieved through mere psychological suggestion. For example, a 1998 survey of 12,731 practitioners in five districts of Beijing conducted by five major hospitals in Beijing revealed a 99.1% success rate in curing illness through practicing Falun Gong. The same survey also found that the respondents saved approximately 41.7 million yuan in medical expenses annually, or an average of 3,270 yuan per person.

34. How does Falun Gong view illness and karma?

A: Falun Gong holds that karma is the root cause of illness. By improving one’s character and doing the exercises, practitioners can reduce karma, thereby achieving physical purification (i.e., restoring health). On a superficial level, this is similar to the concept in traditional Chinese medicine that “when righteous energy remains within, evil cannot prevail.”

35. Does Falun Gong prohibit practitioners from taking medicine?

A: Falun Gong books do not disallow practitioners from taking medicine. Many practitioners have regained their health through the practice and no longer need to take medicine. However, Falun Gong does not prohibit one from seeking medical treatment or taking medicine.

36. Why do some Falun Gong practitioners not take medicine?

A: After practicing, many find that their health improves and they no longer need medication. However, this is a personal choice; there are no restrictions along these lines. It is also worth noting that most medicines have side effects that should be taken into consideration.

37. Is Falun Gong against modern medicine?

A: Falun Gong does not oppose modern medicine. Practitioners are free to choose whether to seek medical treatment. Many people have experienced improved health due to the practice and have reduced or even eliminated the need for medical treatment. Yet some have found medical treatment beneficial and important.

38. What are the benefits of practicing Falun Gong regarding physical and mental health?

A: Practitioners see improved physical function, mental well-being, and interpersonal relationships. Many people report that their illnesses have been alleviated or disappeared. Cultivating the mind reduces anxiety and stress, while living by good values improves interpersonal interactions.

39. How do Falun Gong practitioners view illness?

A: Practitioners understand the fundamental cause of illness to be karma. Many practitioners have experienced a profound transformation through practicing the exercises and improving their character, and are no longer troubled by illness. The teachings ask practitioners to be open-minded and let go of attachments and desires while maintaining a peaceful state of mind. If practitioners persist in studying the teachings and doing the exercises, and truly follow the Falun Gong teachings in their daily lives, many unhealthy states in their minds and bodies will be corrected.

40. How can Falun Gong improve family and interpersonal relationships?

A: Positive interactions arise when practitioners live by the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Practitioners have had more harmonious marital relationships and fewer conflicts between parents and children after practicing. They also become more honest and cooperative in the workplace, strengthening trust among colleagues. Many individuals have resolved issues like drug abuse, alcoholism, and domestic violence entirely by practicing Falun Gong.

41. How is Falun Gong different from other health and wellness exercises?

A: The core of Falun Gong is to cultivate one’s mind and elevate one’s spiritual realm, not just to improve one’s health. It emphasizes moral self-discipline. The exercises are supplementary. The benefits of Falun Gong include both physical and spiritual development. It is fundamentally different from most wellness exercises.

42. How can Falun Gong help to counter society’s moral decline?

A: The principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance provide a higher moral standard to strive for. In a society that often lacks integrity, practitioners set an example by treating others with kindness and being honest, thus improving the social environment. Falun Gong also provides guidance for cultivating one’s character and teaches people to be compassionate.

43. How does Falun Gong help practitioners confront challenges in life?

A: Cultivating the mind based on the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance helps one gain insight into the true nature of inner conflict and suffering. It helps one learn to let go of attachments, jealousy, and other desires. It helps to achieve inner peace while improving both mental and physical health. The teachings provide a positive attitude and wisdom that can be applied when facing life’s challenges.

44. What are the eight features of Falun Gong?

A: These features are:

“1. A Law Wheel is Cultivated, Not an Energy Elixir.2. The Law Wheel Refines the Person Even When He or She is Not Doing the Exercises.3. Cultivating the Main Consciousness so that You Get Gong.4. Cultivation of Both Mind and Body.5. Five Exercises that are Simple and Easy to Learn.6. No Directing with Thought, No Going Awry, and a Rapid Increase of Gong.7. No Concern for Location, Time, or Direction When Doing the Exercises, and No Concern About Ending the Practice.8. Having the Protection of My Law Bodies, There is No Need to Fear Meddling by Malevolent External Entities.”(The Great Way of Spiritual Perfection)

Part 5. History and Introduction

45. How was Falun Gong introduced?

A: In May 1992, Mr. Li Hongzhi began teaching Falun Gong in Changchun, Jilin Province, China. He later held in-person training sessions at the invitation of the China Qigong Association and qigong associations across China. Mr. Li first taught Falun Gong overseas in France and Sweden in 1995. By 2025, Falun Gong was practiced in over 100 countries, and its main texts have been translated into more than 50 languages.

46. Why did Falun Gong spread so quickly?

A: Because Falun Gong is easy to learn, taught for free, and beneficial to practitioners’ health and well-being, it spread rapidly through word of mouth to more than 100 countries and attracted a hundred million practitioners.

47. Why did Falun Gong gain support in China in its early days?

A: In the early 1990s, Falun Gong was recognized by the Chinese government for improving health and reducing medical expenses, and because it promoted traditional culture. At the 1992 Oriental Health Expo, Falun Gong earned the Star Qigong award. At the 1993 Oriental Health Expo, Mr. Li Hongzhi won the conference’s highest award, the Frontier Science Progress Award, and the title of Most Popular Qigong Master.

48. Does Falun Gong have an organizational structure?

A: Falun Gong is loosely organized with no formal membership system, no full-time clergy, and no tithing. It mainly operates through practice sites organized by volunteers.

49. Who practices Falun Gong?

A: Practitioners are of all ages, social classes, races, occupations, and cultural backgrounds, including but not limited to farmers, workers, teachers, students, scholars, engineers, military personnel, businesspeople, and artists. A survey in the United States showed that a high proportion of Falun Gong practitioners hold advanced degrees and are professionally accomplished.

50. Where was Falun Gong first introduced?

A: Mr. Li Hongzhi gave the first lecture in Changchun, Jilin Province, China in May 1992. Presented as a form of qigong, Falun Gong quickly became popular and attracted people in major Chinese cities like Beijing, Tianjin, and Dalian.

51. Why did Falun Gong spread rapidly in China in the 1990s?

A: Falun Gong gained widespread recognition for its significant health benefits and unique philosophy of spiritual cultivation. Many people see improved health after taking up the practice. The values of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance benefit practitioners in their interpersonal relationships and provide them with guidance for their lives. Early positive coverage by official media fueled its spread.

52. What was the Chinese government’s early attitude towards Falun Gong?

A: The Chinese government initially supported Falun Gong. Many Chinese Communist Party members and government officials were practicing Falun Gong and saw their health improve as a result. Before the persecution began, it was estimated that one in 13 people in China practiced Falun Gong.

In August 1993, the Central Propaganda Department and the Ministry of Public Security jointly held the Third National Conference to Commend Outstanding Individuals for Acts of Courage. The conference invited Mr. Li Hongzhi to provide free rehabilitation treatment to attendees, with remarkable results. In response, the China Outstanding Individuals for Courage Foundation issued a “Letter of Appreciation from the Ministry of Public Security of the People’s Republic of China to the China Qigong Science Research Association,” highly commending Mr. Li Hongzhi and Falun Gong’s health benefits.

At the 1993 Oriental Health Expo in Beijing, Master Li won the Expo’s highest award, the Frontier Science Progress Award, the conference’s Special Gold Award, and the title of Most Popular Qigong Master.

In May 1998, the director of China’s State Sports General Administration visited Changchun, the birthplace of Falun Gong. That evening, CCTV’s Evening News and CCTV Channel 5 broadcast approximately ten minutes of footage of people practicing Falun Gong.

In September 1998, the National Sports General Administration conducted a sample survey of 12,553 Falun Gong practitioners. Among the respondents, 77.5% reported being cured or nearly completely recovered, and another 20.4% reported improvement in their health. The total effectiveness rate for healing and improving health thus reached 97.9%. On average, each practitioner saved over 1,700 yuan in medical expenses each year, for a total of over 21 million yuan.

On July 10, 1998, China Economic Times published a lengthy article titled “I Stood Up!” about Xie Xiufen, a homemaker from Handan City, Hebei Province, who was paralyzed for 16 years and regained the ability to walk after she started practicing Falun Gong.

On August 28, 1998, China Youth Daily published an article titled “Festival of Life” to introduce the excellent performance of the 1,500-member Falun Gong exercise demonstration group at the 1998 Asian Sports Festival in Shenyang, China, and the health-promoting effects of Falun Gong.

On November 10, 1998, China’s Yangcheng Evening News, under the headline “Young and Old Practice Falun Gong,” reported on a large-scale morning exercise session involving 5,000 people at Falun Gong practice sites, including the Guangzhou Martyrs’ Cemetery. The report also reported on Lin Chanying, a statistician at Guangzhou’s Diwei Leather Co., who previously suffered from paralysis, numbness and loss of function in 70% of her body, as well as incontinence. She completely recovered after practicing Falun Gong and was “radiant with a rosy complexion, and her exercise movements were fluent and effortless.”

The report also included photos of a 93-year-old woman and a two-year-old child practicing Falun Gong. The report also stated that nearly 250,000 people in Guangdong Province practiced Falun Gong and that Falun Gong is always taught for free.

On March 17, 1997, China’s Dalian Daily published an article titled “An Unknown Elder’s Silent Dedication.” The article featured a man in his 70s named Sheng Lijian who quietly built four village roads within a year, totaling approximately 1,100 meters. When asked who he worked for and how much he was paid, he replied, “I’m a Falun Gong practitioner. I do this good deed for free.”

On February 16, 1998, the “Readers’ Letters” section of the Beijing Daily praised an anonymous Beijing resident for donating 80,000 yuan to the Lanzhou Chemical Company’s Chemical Research Institute for scientific research and development in Northwest China, and 100,000 yuan to the Langfang Branch of the China Petroleum Exploration and Development Research Institute. This Beijing resident said that practicing Falun Gong gave him a new understanding of the meaning of life, human pursuit, and the cultivation of one’s xinxing, leading him to make these donations. The Beijing People’s Broadcasting Station’s “Life Hotline” program also ran a detailed report, lasting over an hour, on this matter and Falun Gong.

On February 21, 1998, China’s Dalian Evening News reported that Yuan Hongcun, a student at the Dalian Naval Academy, rescued a child who had fallen into an ice hole three meters below the surface of the Freedom River on the afternoon of February 14. Yuan was praised and awarded a second-class merit by the academy. Yuan had practiced Falun Gong for two years at the time.

In the second half of 1998, a group of retired National People’s Congress (NPC) officials, led by former NPC Chairman Qiao Shi, conducted a detailed investigation of Falun Gong over a period of several months and concluded that Falun Gong was beneficial to China and its people and did not pose any harm.

53. Why was Falun Gong later suppressed in China?

A: Falun Gong’s effectiveness in resolving illnesses, improving health, and elevating morality rapidly expanded its base. By 1999, estimates put the number of practitioners between 70 and 100 million. Falun Gong’s independence from the CCP’s ideological and political system fueled then CCP leader Jiang Zemin’s jealousy and irritation.

54. Why does Falun Gong attract practitioners from all over the world?

A: Falun Gong is easy to learn and focuses on physical and mental well-being. The exercises are gentle and suitable for all ages. The teachings explain the principles of cultivating one’s mind. Practitioners generally report improvement in their physical, mental, and moral health.

55. Does Falun Gong require any fees?

A: No. Falun Gong practitioners worldwide teach the exercises free of charge. The instructional materials, lecture recordings, and exercise videos are all available online for free. The nine-day introductory classes for beginners are typically organized by volunteers and are also free of charge. Practice sites are voluntary and free to attend, and participants are welcome to come and go as they wish.

56. Does Falun Gong ask for donations?

A: Falun Gong does not solicit donations and has no fundraising mechanism. Activities are organized by volunteers. All instructional materials are available for free on the official website, and there are no membership fees.

In recent years, some practitioners traveling abroad from mainland China expressed a wish to donate their leftover foreign currency to projects run by practitioners. A foundation was formed to manage donations properly and discourage practitioners from accepting funds on their own. However, due to the CCP’s policy changes and the decline in China’s economy, the foundation has had minimal activity and little income. It was created entirely to avoid collecting donations in a disorderly or improper manner.

57. How does Falun Gong approach the subject of money?

A: We choose not to use spiritual cultivation as a means to make money. All teaching materials are free and available to the public, and there is no fee to learn the exercises. Its practitioners are taught to let go of attachments to fame and fortune.

58. Does Falun Gong raise funds externally?

A: All activities organized by Falun Gong practitioners rely on voluntary support. Practice sites and information booths are maintained by practitioners of their own initiative.

Part 6. Repression and Controversy

59. Why is Falun Gong persecuted in China?

A: By July 1999, the number of Falun Gong practitioners reached between 70 and 100 million, exceeding the number of Chinese Communist Party members. Out of jealousy and paranoia, Jiang Zemin called to “eradicate Falun Gong in three months.” He issued directives to “defame their reputation, bankrupt them financially, and destroy them physically” and “beat them to death without consequence; beating them to death is considered suicide; cremation is performed without investigation.”

The persecution quickly fueled a nationwide boom in forced organ harvesting for transplantation, with Falun Gong practitioners as the primary victims. The CCP’s military, public security, procuratorate, courts, and hospitals across the country all profited tremendously, and a vast number of individuals became accomplices.

60. What prompted the April 25 Appeal in 1999?

A: He Zuoxiu, a previously discredited pro-CCP scholar, published an article defaming Falun Gong in a magazine published by the Tianjin Education College. Some Falun Gong practitioners in Tianjin went to the publisher’s office to share their own experiences with Falun Gong and seek corrections to the article. Luo Gan, then Secretary of the Political and Legal Affairs Committee (PLAC), ordered over 300 riot police officers to Tianjin, who arrested 45 Falun Gong practitioners. The Tianjin municipal government told the practitioners that the only way to resolve the issue was to go to the central government in Beijing.

On April 25, upon learning of the mass arrest in Tianjin, thousands of Falun Gong practitioners went to the National Appeals Office to peacefully petition the government to release the practitioners. They did not “besiege Zhongnanhai” (the central government compound) as CCP media outlets later claimed. The petitioners’ representatives met with the leadership of the National Appeals Office and put forward three demands: (1) release the illegally arrested Falun Gong practitioners in Tianjin; (2) allow the legal publication of Falun Gong books; and (3) allow a legal environment for practicing Falun Gong. The issues were resolved that evening, and the petitioners dispersed peacefully.

61. Why did the CCP ban Falun Gong in July 1999?

A: The move was primarily due to Jiang Zemin’s jealousy of Falun Gong’s independence and moral influence. He repeatedly emphasized the need to “eradicate Falun Gong” and established the 610 Office, an extrajudicial agency similar to the Central Cultural Revolution Group or the Gestapo, to plan and drive the suppression and conduct smear campaigns, brainwashing, and “transformation” efforts.

62. What is the “610 Office”?

A: The “610 Office” is an illegal CCP agency created specifically to suppress Falun Gong. It was allegedly established on June 10, 1999, and named after the date of its founding. The 610 Office reports directly to the CCP Central Committee and has the authority to override public security, procuratorial, and judicial agencies in carrying out the persecution. It spans state-owned, private, and foreign-related organizations. It is involved in nationwide surveillance, arrests, brainwashing, sentencing, and forced “transformation” of Falun Gong practitioners.

63. What forms of persecution does Falun Gong suffer in China?

A: The persecution encompasses legal, financial, psychological, and physical aspects. Millions of practitioners have been illegally detained in labor camps and prisons. Torture and forced labor are common. Practitioners also face social discrimination, loss of education, unemployment, and broken families.

64. What evidence shows that the persecution is happening in China?

A: Minghui.org has reported on a large number of persecution cases based on firsthand material, including testimonies of practitioners themselves, as well as evidence submitted by their families. Human rights organizations like Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch have also documented numerous cases. In addition, propaganda campaigns conducted by CCP-affiliated media reflect the persecution from a different perspective.

65. The CCP claims that Falun Gong caused the deaths of 1,400 people. Is this true?

A: This claim was fabricated by the CCP. The cases, reported by Party-affiliated media, involved psychiatric patients, uninsured individuals, and others, none of whom were actual Falun Gong practitioners. On the contrary, the mortality rate among Falun Gong practitioners at the time was far lower than the national average. Many who previously suffered from illnesses, including terminal cases, have explicitly stated that their lives were extended by practicing Falun Gong.

66. What is the “self-immolation incident”?

A: The Tiananmen self-immolation incident was staged by the CCP to incite hatred against Falun Gong practitioners, as reported to the United Nations by the International Education Development organization. Video footage from Xinhua News Agency showed numerous inconsistencies with claims made by Xinhua and other CCP-affiliated media outlets. For example, a plastic bottle supposedly containing gasoline remained intact between a victim’s legs. A police officer also delayed lowering a fire blanket on this victim until he had finished shouting slogans purportedly inspired by Falun Gong (they were not). Furthermore, the victims’ behavior completely contradicted the principles and teachings of Falun Gong.

67. Why did the CCP stage the self-immolation?

A: The event was used to incite hatred and create an excuse for the CCP to escalate its genocidal persecution. After this incident, China’s domestic propaganda campaign intensified, resulting in deep fear, hatred, and rejection of Falun Gong among the public, including children and young people.

68. Is Falun Gong political?

A: Falun Gong books do not have any political content. When practitioners protest the CCP’s persecution at tourist attractions worldwide, they are raising awareness and working to counter the persecution, not fighting for political power.

69. Do Falun Gong practitioners in China risk causing conflict in their families by persisting in their faith amid the persecution?

A: Practitioners in China are persecuted by the CCP for upholding their beliefs, which sometimes causes pressure from their families to renounce their faith. Any tension and misunderstandings that result from the persecution should be attributed to the perpetrators, not selfishness on the part of practitioners.

70. How do Falun Gong practitioners respond to torture and threats?

A: They respond with perseverance and non-violence. They uphold their faith and do not answer violence with violence. Many choose to expose the persecution to international organizations and seek international support. Some have paid the ultimate price, leaving behind a testimony to their courage.

71. Why do some people say Falun Gong is the world’s largest non-violent protest movement?

A: This is because practitioners peacefully expose the persecution and have done so consistently for more than two decades. Millions of people have persisted in their faith without resorting to violence, and their peaceful demeanor has been recognized by international media outlets and scholars.

72. Has Falun Gong received government funding outside China?

A: Falun Gong itself has not accepted any government funding. The funds for its activities are voluntarily donated by practitioners and come from the personal income of practitioners from all walks of life. These donations are made for specific activities or events, not for the accumulation of wealth.

73. Why do Falun Gong practitioners urge the Chinese people to quit the CCP organizations?

A: Those in history who persecuted upright faiths met their demise as a result of divine punishment. Likewise, those who persecute Falun Gong will be held to account for their crimes. When Chinese people join the CCP organizations (including the Communist Youth League and the Young Pioneers), they vow to devote their lives to the CCP. Severing ties with the CCP organizations allows people to break away from the regime’s ideological control, annul their Party oaths, and avoid being implicated when the CCP is ultimately held accountable by the divine. This is also consistent with the Chinese saying that “good is rewarded while evil is punished.”

74. How do Western governments view Falun Gong?

A: Falun Gong is welcomed in more than 100 countries outside of China and has received at least 4,000 awards as of August 2025. Only the CCP hates and fears Falun Gong and has refused to stop suppressing it after 26 years.

75. How do people outside China view the Peaceful Appeal of April 25, 1999?

A: The appeal was not a “siege of Zhongnanhai” as labeled by CCP media. Over 10,000 practitioners went to the State Council’s National Appeals Office in Beijing to report the interference they encountered while exercising their legal right to practice Falun Gong. The entire process was peaceful and orderly, with no banners, slogans, or clashes. Practitioners left quietly that evening, and their demeanor earned international praise.

76. How has the international community responded to the persecution of Falun Gong?

A: The international community has, for the most part, condemned the CCP’s persecution. The U.S. Congress and the European Parliament have passed numerous resolutions, and the United Nations Human Rights Council has repeatedly raised concerns. Various countries have accepted Falun Gong refugees, and many governments and organizations have condemned the CCP’s persecution.

Meanwhile, some countries’ governments have been hesitant to speak out against the CCP owing to the CCP’s influence and economic coercion. Human rights organizations such as Amnesty International continue to report on the persecution. Some countries have allowed practitioners to sue the perpetrators of the persecution.

77. Why does the CCP try to repress Falun Gong overseas?

A: The CCP fears international exposure of its human rights violations against those who believe in Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. It demands that other countries restrict Falun Gong activities in diplomatic settings and avoid publicly speaking out about the CCP’s persecution of Falun Gong. The CCP also organizes propaganda campaigns and instigates agents to disrupt overseas Falun Gong activities through Chinese embassies and consulates. It also uses financial interests, honeypots, and cyber armies to infiltrate overseas communities and defame Falun Gong practitioners.

78. How well is Falun Gong accepted outside China?

A: Most people support or sympathize with Falun Gong and support practitioners’ right to practice their faith. Many have learned the exercises and experienced their positive effects. Governments and non-governmental organizations have publicly expressed their support.

79. Why do Falun Gong practitioners persist in telling people about the persecution?

A: Telling people about the persecution is the main way practitioners are able to expose the persecution. Practitioners work to refute the CCP’s propaganda so that the public is not misled. Their efforts help more people to understand Falun Gong and the persecution, and avoid unwittingly becoming complicit in the persecution and thus incur karmic retribution when the CCP is ultimately held accountable. Practitioners also strive to gain greater social understanding and support. This is also a manifestation of a practitioner’s compassion.

80. How do Falun Gong practitioners respond to the CCP’s propaganda attacks?

A: Practitioners refute the CCP’s lies with firsthand information and their own experiences, including by word of mouth and through websites and media platforms. Practitioners also hold exhibitions and forums to enable members of the public to come to their own conclusions.

81. Why do Falun Gong practitioners often hold parades and marches?

A: Marches are a peaceful way to expose the persecution and gain public understanding. They demonstrate the spirit of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance and have become a common human rights event in cities around the world.

82. How do Falun Gong organizations outside China operate?

A: Falun Gong is practiced on a personal basis and does not require membership in any organizations. However, for the purpose of countering the CCP's persecution, practitioners have organized projects and companies, and most of them operate as volunteer efforts.

83. Is Falun Gong involved in overseas political lobbying?

A: Practitioners’ activities along these lines are related to human rights and religious freedom. Our focus is advocating for congressional or parliamentary resolutions that condemn the persecution and drawing attention to human rights issues such as organ transplant abuse. We do not seek political power or interfere in any country’s political structure.

84. Is forced live organ harvesting in China related to Falun Gong practitioners?

A: Multiple reports have concluded that Falun Gong practitioners are the primary victims. A 2006 report by Canadian investigators first exposed this state-sponsored crime, and the U.S. Congress and the European Parliament have held hearings on the subject. In 2019, the independent China Tribunal in London ruled that forced organ harvesting does occur on a large scale in China and that the victims are mainly Falun Gong practitioners.

85. How do Falun Gong practitioners view the persecution?

A: Practitioners believe the persecution will end and that the truth will ultimately prevail. They believe in the universal principle that good is rewarded while evil is punished. For many years, they have persisted in exposing the persecution, and they continue to raise awareness and plea for justice.

86. Why do Falun Gong practitioners set up information booths all over the world?

A: Because the CCP systematically suppresses Falun Gong by mobilizing all of China’s media together with diplomatic pressure and economic coercion, practitioners established various information sites to bring attention to the human rights atrocities committed by the CCP in its persecution of Falun Gong. In addition, almost all overseas Chinese communities have been misled by the CCP’s hate propaganda. Information booths help to supplement the limited media coverage on the persecution and practitioners’ true experiences.

Across mainland China, practitioners have set up material production sites to print flyers and booklets. The content is mainly sourced from Minghui.org and distributed to the public through grassroots networks.

Some material production sites in mainland China also have the ability to produce books such as Zhuan Falun, the Minghui book series, Nine Commentaries on the Communist Party, How the Specter of Communism Is Ruling Our World, and others, so that people in China have access to these books.

87. Why do Falun Gong practitioners often distribute flyers on the streets?

A: Practitioners use flyers, display boards, and oral presentations to counteract the CCP’s lies that have long misled the public. Their efforts have helped clear up many people’s misunderstandings about Falun Gong.

88. Does Falun Gong have the political intention to overthrow the Chinese government?

A: Falun Gong does not seek political power, only freedom of belief and freedom to practice. Falun Gong’s teachings do not contain any political demands. The goal of cultivation is moral, physical, and mental improvement. International appeals focus on ending the persecution, not seizing power.

89. Why do Falun Gong practitioners expose the persecution?

A: Victims cannot voice their opinions within China, so they need international attention. Many practitioners have been illegally arrested, detained, tortured, and killed. Numerous cases of illegal forced labor and prison sentences have been reported. Showing the world what is really happening in China is a fundamental action in the fight for human rights.

90. What is the current situation of Falun Gong in mainland China?

A: The persecution continues, but practitioners persist in their cultivation practice and privately share materials. They anonymously report cases of persecution to Minghui.org so that they can be reported internationally. Many people in China support Falun Gong in private but dare not speak out.

91. Why has Falun Gong gained widespread support internationally?

A: Because Falun Gong practitioners around the world persistently clarify the truth, and websites and media outlets founded by Falun Gong practitioners (including Minghui.org) report on and provide examples of Falun Gong practitioners’ spiritual practice and the persecution. Over the years, Falun Gong practitioners’ peaceful demeanor and adherence to Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance even in countering the persecution has gained recognition and support from international human rights organizations and governments.

92. Why do Falun Gong practitioners persist in resisting the persecution through peaceful means?

A: This is because the principles of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance require a non-violent response. Violence runs counter to the core values of spiritual practice. Peaceful means can better garner international support, uphold moral values, and are better received by the public.

Part 7. Cultural and Social Influence

93. What impacts does Falun Gong have on society?

A: Practitioners’ aspiration to meet a higher moral standard fosters trust, and their improved health reduces the burden on the medical system. Practitioners also benefit their communities by teaching the exercises and bringing awareness to human rights issues.

94. What is the impact of Falun Gong on culture and art?

A: Falun Gong has inspired a new wave of creative works centered on traditional values. Shen Yun Performing Arts promotes traditional dance and music. Falun Gong artists create paintings and sculptures that embody spiritual ideals and faith. Their works, which reflect themes of good and evil in human nature and faith, have won numerous awards.

95. How are Shen Yun performances related to Falun Gong?

A: Shen Yun Performing Arts is composed of Falun Gong practitioners and uses art to advocate for human rights and promote the spirit of Truthfulness-Compassion-Forbearance. Performances incorporate traditional Chinese culture and the realities of the persecution in modern China.

96. Does Falun Gong reject modern technology?

A: Falun Gong practitioners use modern technology to make information and materials available online. Practitioners have also developed software to circumvent the CCP’s internet censorship. Many Falun Gong practitioners are scientists, engineers, and scientific researchers.

97. Why are young people in China increasingly interested in Falun Gong?

A: Some want to pursue faith and moral strength after being disappointed by the corruption of government officials in China. Some noticed positive changes in their peers after they began practicing, while others found information about Falun Gong online.

98. How do Falun Gong practitioners deal with the CCP’s internet blockade?

A: They use various peaceful means to spread truthful information, including overseas websites and social media. Some create videos and e-books for easy sharing. Volunteers translate the materials and teachings into multiple languages to overcome geographical limitations.

99. Does Falun Gong cooperate with other religions?

A: Falun Gong practitioners treat all upright religions with kindness and strive to cultivate good relations. Many Christians and Buddhists have learned the Falun Gong exercises from practitioners. Practitioners also participate in international human rights forums alongside other religious groups. There are numerous cases of interfaith solidarity. Falun Gong is apolitical, however.

100. Does Falun Gong advocate resistance to social injustice?

A: Practitioners are encouraged to expose the injustice they suffer in peaceful and rational ways, but they should not be emotionally attached. Protesting religious persecution is a legitimate way to defend one’s rights. Practitioners’ actions must always be non-violent and ethical.

101. How do Falun Gong practitioners handle misunderstandings from relatives and friends about their choice to pursue a spiritual life?

A: Practitioners strive to identify their own shortcomings and improve themselves, so when they encounter any misunderstandings about their faith, they explain themselves patiently and kindly. Practitioners use their own experiences and those of other practitioners to convey the benefits of spiritual practice and faith. We respect perspectives that differ from ours and do not force change. Most practitioners’ friends and families offer their respect and support once they come to a deeper understanding of Falun Gong.